Affair Quote by Dee Hock
“Well, years and years ago, I started to ask myself three very simple questions, which dominated my life for many years. One of them was, "Why are organizations everywhere, whether commercial, social, or religious, increasingly unable to manage their affairs?" The second question was, "Why are individuals throughout the world increasingly in conflict with and alienated from the organizations of which they're a part?" And the third was, "Why are society and the biosphere increasingly in disarray?"”
About This Quote
Source Speech: The Future of Organizations, Dee Hock, 1995
Organizational and individual alienation, plus ecological decline, stem from misaligned purpose and structure.
In simple terms: Misaligned goals cause conflict and environmental harm.
Key Takeaway
Align purpose, structure, and stewardship.
Themes
leadership
environment
social cohesion
Mood
concerned
hopeful
Type
philosophical
strategic
When to use this quote
- nonprofit management
- corporate strategy
- community building
- environmental policy
Key Concepts
systems thinking
ethical governance
Questions to Reflect On
- What purpose drives your organization?
- How can you reconnect individuals to collective goals?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep-rooted systems is complex and slow.
![“[The] BBC was known as Auntie suggesting someone prudish and Victorian and that she still is on some days. On others she's a champagne-soaked floozie, her skirts in disarray, her mind in the gutter, and the mixture can be quite wonderful.” quote by Morley Safer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/edb/morley-safer-17896_auntie_the-bbc-was-known-as-auntie-suggesting-s_689701.jpg)
